A distributed system structure for a large-way, symmetric multiprocessor system using a bus-based cache-coherence protocol is provided. The distributed system structure contains an address switch, multiple memory subsystems, and multiple master devices organized into a set of nodes supported by a node controller. The node controller receives commands from a master device, communicates with a master device as another master device or as a slave device, and queues commands received from a master device. Due to pin limitations that may be caused by large buses, functionality for address paths and data paths are implemented in the node controller and are implemented in physically separate components. Commands are sent from the node address controller to the node data controller to control the flow of data through a node.